The Feast of St. Benedict The Feast of our founder St. Benedict is July 11. It is a very special me of celebraon. Our Order, founded over 1500 years ago, means that Benedicnes are the oldest religious community. I believe that this speaks to the depth and breadth of the foundaon that St. Benedict built. When I am working with the youth, I have opportunies to explain Benedicne life to them. When they hear that Benedicnes are 1500 years old, I usually ask “Don’t I look good for being 1500 years old?” Then they laugh or their jaws drop. I have to admit, this is one way I know whether or not the students are paying aenon. And they are: Our youth are listening and looking to us for wisdom and guidance. St. Benedict remains a pillar in Chrisan spirituality. In the Monastery, the Liturgy of the Hours is our main pillar. The channg gives way to prayers, the readings, and reflecons. God ’s word is joyfully exalted in the monasc chant. One can walk into any Monastery and know there will always be a Horarium (daily schedule) for the Liturgy of the Hours. In the morning, we celebrate the light of a new day and the resurrecon of the Lord; Midday, to remind ourselves how God is in our midst; and Evening Praise is a me of giving thanks for all that was given to us during the day. Very simple, yet profound, to “pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). St. Benedict clearly states in his Holy Rule that “Nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God” (43:3). We give thanks to our Founder, St. Benedict, for our prayer life. Because of COVID-19, these past months have been a challenge for all ages—physically, emoonally, and spiritually. That we cannot “welcome all as Christ” to our Monastery home is just not part of a Benedicne’s DNA. I will rejoice when our actual (not just virtual) doors are once again open to all guests to be received as Christ, so that in all things God may be glorified. Happy Feast of St. Benedict to all who follow the Benedicne Way of life! Sister Linda Soler, OSB Monastic Leadership Team
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The Feast of St. Benedict
The Feast of our founder St. Benedict is July 11. It is a very special time of celebration. Our Order, founded over
1500 years ago, means that Benedictines are the oldest religious community. I believe
that this speaks to the depth and breadth of the foundation that St. Benedict built.
When I am working with the youth, I have opportunities to explain Benedictine life to
them. When they hear that Benedictines are 1500 years old, I usually ask “Don’t I look
good for being 1500 years old?” Then they laugh or their jaws drop. I have to admit, this
is one way I know whether or not the students are paying attention. And they are: Our
youth are listening and looking to us for wisdom and guidance.
St. Benedict remains a pillar in Christian spirituality. In the Monastery, the Liturgy of the
Hours is our main pillar. The chanting gives way to prayers, the readings, and reflections. God’s word is joyfully
exalted in the monastic chant. One can walk into any Monastery and know there will always be a Horarium
(daily schedule) for the Liturgy of the Hours.
In the morning, we celebrate the light of a new day and the resurrection of the Lord; Midday, to remind
ourselves how God is in our midst; and Evening Praise is a time of giving thanks for all that was given to us
during the day. Very simple, yet profound, to “pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). St. Benedict clearly states in his
Holy Rule that “Nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God” (43:3). We give thanks to our Founder, St.
Benedict, for our prayer life.
Because of COVID-19, these past months have been a challenge for all ages—physically, emotionally, and
spiritually. That we cannot “welcome all as Christ” to our Monastery home is just not part
of a Benedictine’s DNA. I will rejoice when our actual (not just virtual) doors are once
again open to all guests to be received as Christ, so that in all things God may be
glorified.
Happy Feast of St. Benedict to all who follow the Benedictine Way of life!
Sister Linda Soler, OSB
Monastic Leadership Team
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I was asked to reflect on and write about
why I am a Benedictine Oblate.
Immediately, I thought that I like being
part of something greater with a sense of
shared values. I know I am connected
even when I am by myself.
I was first attracted to the Rule of St.
Benedict when I was a graduate student
of theology at Saint John’s University. It was a time of my life when I no longer knew where I fit. Most of my dreams for my life had
been shattered. As I took classes and spent time on campus, I was inspired by the sense of hospitality and the challenge to study.
The encouragement to learn helped me to touch base with my roots and then grow beyond who I had been before. After
graduation, I continued to train in ministry, specifically for chaplaincy. I realized I missed the Benedictine influence in my life. I
decided to connect with St. Paul’s Monastery and went through the discernment process to become an oblate. Six years ago, I took
vows as an Oblate of St. Benedict (OblSB) in the Monastery chapel with friends and family present.
Because of work and other life
circumstances, I have moved several times
since then. At each new home, I have
connected with a Benedictine community.
Often, I am a weary traveler when I arrive
at the front door of a Benedictine
monastery, and I am always greeted like a
friend.
I am now a hospice chaplain and I remind
myself daily to “listen with the ear of my
heart.” These continue to be guiding words
as I navigate the worldwide crisis of COVID-
19 and address the issues of racism in our
communities.
Over the last few months, most of my days
are spent on the phone offering grief
support to people going through loss of a loved one or those who are suffering in other ways as a result of quickly changing world
events. At times I close my eyes, and in my mind, I think of St Paul’s Monastery. I see the chapel with the windows looking out to
the cemetery. I hear the sound of the piano. I remember the artwork displays and the library (well, who can’t love the library?).
Thinking of the peace and centuries-old faith traditions that continue within those walls keeps me grounded as I adjust to an
everchanging world.
Why I am a Benedictine Oblate
by Terry Roessler , OblSB
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“Christ is the light that allows people to see things in their fullness. The precise and intended effect of such
a light is to see Christ everywhere else. In fact, that is my only definition of a true Christian. A mature
Christian sees Christ in everything and everyone else.” Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ
This year of 2020 may well be one of the most eventful and muddled in the lifetimes of many of us. With
the global pandemic/economic crisis followed immediately by the tragic and unjust death of George Floyd, our vision for a future
as a cohesive society seems quite cloudy at this point. All of which makes it ironic that “20/20” is often the term used to describe
clear seeing. Could it even be possible that the
events of this unprecedented year might result in us
seeing our world, ourselves, and our relationships
more clearly? Could this finally be an opportunity for
a sharpening of focus for our collective
consciousness?
New insights started to come slowly in the early days
of the stay-at-home order, when some began to see
the blessing of trading in hectic, nonstop lifestyles,
for the involuntary simplicity of having nowhere else
to go. For others, the forced isolation also started to
make us appreciate human contact in a way that
previously seemed lost in our gradual drift to an
always-on, digitally-connected world. We’ve started
to clearly see again the need for human interaction
and community.
But more consequential in 2020 has been the deep,
heartfelt community response to the unjust death of
George Floyd. What we have seen playing out in the
streets of the Twin Cities, and around the world, has
been an outpouring of grief, sorrow, anger, and
frustration of a people who, for centuries, have not been clearly seen for their inherent divine embodiment, nor treated with the
dignity to which everyone is entitled as children of God.
Richard Rohr’s above definition of a Christian, within the context of centuries of racism, would suggest that we modern-day
Christians are still not seeing each other with the eyes of Christ. Rather we continue to see our brothers and sisters as “other,” and
certainly something other than the embodiment of Christ. We’ve also been slow to see how our lack of deeper relationships with
people of color have left us blind to our systemic privilege – especially the privilege of not automatically being suspected and
profiled for simply going about our daily lives.
As St. Benedict understood in defining the Rule for communities, until we can start to see the hidden Christ within ourselves and
each other, it will be quite difficult to “Welcome all as Christ.” Thus, the Benedictine emphasis on community and contemplative
prayer, provides a way to stay connected while we continually clean the lens of our perception.
We can only pray that this year of 2020 will finally open our eyes to the inherent dignity of the Christ within ourselves and within
everyone we encounter and that our institutions and our cultural values will start to reflect that clarity of seeing.
2020 Vision
by Jeff Dols, OblSB, Mission Advancement Director
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Dear Oblate Candidates
by Shirley J. Riedmann, Lay Oblate Candidate
I miss my little “pod” as we self-isolate from the COVID-19 pandemic. In all types of adversity,
God provides the light and breath of opportunity. As I have reflected on my formation journey
these past few months, God has opened so many doors for deepening my relationship with,
and understanding of, the Trinity, Mother Mary, and the Rule of St. Benedict. The first rule—
Listen with the ear of the heart—has given me a new appreciation for the compassionate
needs, fears, and anxieties of family and friends during this unprecedented period in our lives. To just “Be” in the lives
of those closest to us, and to all we meet, is one of the greatest gifts we can give as a Lay Oblate. The Rule of St.
Benedict says that if you want to be holy, stay where you are in the human community and learn from it. Learn
patience, learn wisdom, learn unselfishness, and learn love. I pray that you are all safe and well in your little “pods,”
and we will be together very soon.
How you could help? As we all self-quarantine and wait for the days we can visit the Monas-
tery again, you may be wondering how you could help from home? We
here at the Monastery are working on expanding our reach, and with
that comes a lot of hands-on, data-entry work. If you would like to help